The controversial history of the sports gesture known as the tomahawk chop
In short: A simple rhythmic motion of the forearm has become a global sporting phenomenon. From American football to English rugby, the tomahawk chop has traveled across continents and disciplines, sparking intense debates over cultural representation, tradition, and the ethics of using Native American imagery in professional sports.
The gesture, characterized by moving the forearm forward and backward with an open palm, first appeared during the 1984 Florida State Seminoles football season. The chant began within the stadium's fraternity area, accompanied by the university's marching band. The movement eventually spread to other major organizations, including the Atlanta Braves in 1991 and the Kansas City Chiefs in November 1990. The ritual's popularity grew after it was echoed by the Florida State marching band. It eventually reached the professional level internationally.
The ritual has faced decades of criticism for being a racist caricature of Native American culture. Groups like Not in Our Honor have labelled this rhythmic movement 'synchronized racism.' Since 2020, the Kansas City Chiefs have modified the ritual, mandating that cheerleaders perform the chop with a clenched fist instead of an open hand. Similarly, the English rugby team Exeter Chiefs, which adopted the chant in 2010, rebranded in 2022 to move away from Native American imagery. The gesture is often viewed as a reference to historical scalping practices. Various Native American organisations have formally requested that teams cease using the movement.
The commercial side of the chant became a significant business venture. In 1991, foam salesman Paul Braddy created foam tomahawks for the Atlanta Braves after a radio broadcast suggestion. The product was so successful that Braddy was able to leave his $60,000-a-year job to manufacture them full-time, eventually producing 8,000 units a day. However, the venture faced legal challenges when Major League Baseball claimed the foam tomahawks infringed on the Braves' copyrighted logo, leading to a licensing deal for 10% of the profits. The initial prototype was hand-carved using an electric knife. This led to a massive production scale that allowed the inventor to quit his previous career.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Tomahawk chop
- Also: Wikidata — Tomahawk chop · CC0
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